Apparatus



(No Model.) 7

- J. R. WARD.

CHECK REGEIVING APPARATUS.

N0. 413,002. Patented Oct. 15, 1889.

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N PETERS. Imam-Lithographer, Wahingwn. D.C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ROBERT \VARD, OF KENSINGTON, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ENG-LAND.

CHECK-RECEIVING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 413,002, dated October 15, 1889. Application filed November 30, 1887. Serial No. 256,542. (No model.) Patented in England November 16, I88 7, N0T15,73Z.

To all 2072,0722 it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN ROBERT WARD, 0f 11 Russell Gardens, Kensington, county of Middlesex, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Checking Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

This my invention relates to checking apparatus; and it has for its object, first, to check the time at which shop-assistants arrive at their place of business; secondly, to check the amount of money taken by said assistants, and, thirdly, to check the receipts of waiters, barmen, and other servants to whom money is intrusted; and it consists of the parts and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention herein described was patented to me in Great Britain November 16, 1887, No. 15,732.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a part sectional side elevation of my invention, showin g an alternative method of fitting the speaking-tube. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a portion of tubing forming a speaking-tube and check-receiver combined. Fig. 4 shows a method of coupling two pieces of tubing together. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a breakin the tubing forming a part of my i11- vention. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the valve, as shown in Fig. 2. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are views of the kind of check used with my invention; and Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of part of case A, showing the bell or gong K attached thereto.

Similar letters refer to similar parts through out all the views.

My invention consists, essentially, of a rectangular case A, the frame-Work of which is preferably constructedof wood 5 butit may also be made of metal. The said case A is fitted with a till or receiver for the checks or coins, and which till may consist of a rectangular box, which is located in the lower part of the casing A and rendered secure by the door B, which is provided with a lock 0; or, if more convenient, said till may consist of a simple drawer provided with a reliable lock and key.

ably, of plates of glass D, through which the checks in the apparatus may be clearly seen.

Inside the case A are two rectangular pieces of glass or other material E and F, the plate F being preferably of ground glass or other opaque material. The said plates E and F are attached to pieces of metal G either by screws or rivets, which pieces of metal are journaled in the back and front of the apparatus and provided with levers H, by means of which said plates E and F may be tilted to an angle. At the' rear of the apparatus is a stop J which consists of a rubber or leather washer secured upon a pin, and which serves to prevent the plate E from being tilted too high.

A bell or gong K is fitted in thecase A at the side, as shown in Fig. 10, in position to be struck by the falling coins issuing out of the tube L, serving to attract attention when checks enter the apparatus.

Inserted into the top of the apparatus is the tubing or pipe L, the lower part of which is fitted with a valve, which consists of a flat piece of metal A upon a wire S, which projects over the apparatus, and is provided with a ring or other suitable handle N, and which piece of metal R slides into a casing M, formed for its reception. The tubing L is provided with a speaking-tube O, which may be carried to any convenient place,

The sides of the said case A consist, prefer- I and may, if desired, be provided with a fiexible tube and whistle, as is usual. \Vhen the tubing L is carried down to the apparatus from any considerable height, it is found convenient to construct it with breaks P, which are formed by making the tubing L bear off at an angle and inserting therein pieces of india-rubber or other soft material Q, Fig. 3. These said breaks P serve to arrest the fall of the checks or coins, which would otherwise enter the checking apparatus with great force.

When the speaking-tube O is carried to the front of the apparatus, it is found convenient to fit the valve inside the apparatus, which valve is held in place by lugs T. At-

. tached to one of the lugs T and to the wire S is a spiral spring U, which serves to open the valve when released.

Fig. 3 shows the upper end of the tube L,

formed into a mouth-piece V, and a check-receptacle W, formed with a cap W, provided with a finger-piece by means of which the cap W may be readily opened or closed. When the tubing L is carried through several floors and it is necessary to keep the tubing separate for different apparatus, it is sometimes found convenient to couple two or more tubes together either by bands Y, Fig. 4, or by staples driven into the Wall, and the tubing being made preferably flat, it will readily adapt itself to this arrangement.

When the apparatus is used in restaurants, it is conveniently used in combination with a lift, and when more than one apparatus is used each apparatus is numbered to correspond with the number of the room.

This my improved checking apparatus may be used for checking cash; but I prefer to use checks which consist of metal disks, Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the values of which may be distinguished either by different colors or the values may be imprinted thereon in figures.

WVhen the checks are provided with figures, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, I use but one apparatus for any number of rooms, as the figure above the line representsthe number of the room from which they came, while the figures below the line denote the value of each check and the amount of money received by the assistant, waiter, or other servant.

When found convenient, I dispense with the tubing L and fit the apparatus under the counter, and into which apparatus a check of the same value as the money taken is placed preferably by the customer or fellow assistant with whom the check has been exchanged for money.

When my checking apparatus is used to check the time of arrival of the assistants, they place a check (known by its number) into the mouth of the tubing, and it travels into the apparatus, in front of which is the checking-clerk, who notes the time at which the check enters the apparatus upon a sheet of paper provided and ruled for the purpose.

In order to check the receipts of said assistants, a check representing the amount of the purchase is placed into the mouth of the tubing L, which in this case is usually fitted into the top of the counter, and it then travels into the apparatus, Where the amount of the check and the number of the assistant are duly registered by the checking-clerk, who can by this means sum up the total amount taken by each assistant daily.

lVhen the apparatus is used in restaurants, the waiter, barman, or other servant, after taking his orders, places a check representing the value of the order into the mouth of the tubing, and it then travels down the tubing into the apparatus, and in falling strikes the bell K and rests upon the plate E. The cook, whose attention has been called by the bell, closes the tube with the valve upon the apparatus, and the waiter, who has closed the cap W, Fig. 5, communicates his order to the cook through the tube L and O. The cook then tilts the plate E, upon which is the check, and the check then falls onto the plate F, from whence it may be tilted into the till, after doing which the cook sends the provisions ordered up the lift.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure'by Letters Patent, is

The combination, in a checking apparatus, of the tubing L, fitted into the top of said checking apparatus, of a valve connected with said tubing, of the speaking-tube O, the breaks P, fitted with pieces of india-rubber or other compressible material Q, and means whereby said tubing may be run together, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of November, 1887.

JOHN ROBERT WARD. Witnesses:

W. WILsoN HORN, PERCY R. Y. WILLIs. 

